Car-loading device



Oct. 14, 1930. H. A. MILL ET AL 7 1,778,162

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Oct. 14, 1930. H. A. MILLS ET AL CAR LOADING DEVICE Filed Nov. 21, .1929

2 Shaets-Sheot 2 I iuvsmoaa a i E TTORNEYG Patented Oct. 14, 1930 UNITEDSTATES PATENT. OFFICE ELBBY A. we AND ROBERT B. MAUI, OF GRAND RAPIDS,IIOBIGA! CAB-LOADING DEVICE Application fled November :1, 1029. Serial10.400386.

' This invention relates to means for securing automobiles in freightcars during shipment. I

The main objects of this invention are to provide an adjustableanchoring means for wheel blocks and the like to provide an anchoringmeans which can be stored or housed in the freight car floor flush withthe top surface thereof; to provide an anchoring means which is adaptedto be permanent equipment not ordinarily removable from the freight car;to provide an improved anchoring means for wheel blocks which willpermit the blocks to be adjusted both laterally and transversely of thefreight car floor, as well as permit their positioning in an alignmentwhich is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the car floor, wherebyan automobile may be anchored at an angle to the next adjacent one so asto nest or inter fit the front ends of two automobiles; and to providean improved anchoring means which is readily shiftable to variouspositions in the freight car and which may be quickly and easily securedin the desired position.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings,

' view of one of the i so in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a freightcar floor equipped with our improved anchoring means.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan anchoring bars wedged in positionto use.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation looking to the rightfrom the left end of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2, looking inthe direction indicated by the arrows.

' Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation looking to theleft from the right end of Fig. 4.

6 is anenlarged sectional view taken on the line 6-6'of Fig. 1, lookingin the direction indicated by the arrows, and showing the wheels andaxle of an automobile anchored thereon.

' longitudinall 7-7 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction indicated by thearrows.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in perspective {if the slotted end of oneof the anchoring ars.

Fig. 9 is a view in elevation of the pivoted post member of the improvedjoint construction to which the anchoring bars are attached Fig. 10 is aview of the same taken at right an les to the view shown in Fig. 9.

ig. 11 is a view in side elevation of the joint cross-head upon whichthe post is swiveled.

Fig. 12 is a view in end elevation of the same.

Fig. 13 is a view in end elevation of one of the slide members in whichthe cross-head is pivoted.

Fig. 14.- is a fragmentary view in side elevaings a freight car 20 hasthe floor 21 thereof channeled out to provide s aced paral el grooves22, 23, 24 and 25.

tr1ps of strap iron 26 and 27 are secured by bolts 28 and 29 to the carfloor with the marginal edge of the straps extending over the sides ofthe grooves and with adjacent edges of the iron straps in "spacedrelation so as to form a series of undercut grooves in the car floor.

The undercut grooves are provided with a plurahty of joint members, eachof which comprises a pair of rectangular shaped slide members 30 and 31which are adapted to slidably fit in the undercut grooves between theunder sides of the overlapping iron strips and the floor of the grooves.The slide members 30 and 31 are pivotally mounted on the oppositelyextending trunnions 32 and 33 of Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on theline a cross-head member 34. The cross-head 34 is transversely bored toreceive the cylindrical end of a square post member 35, which end isrotatably mounted in the cross-head and retained therein by having theend of its tip portion riveted. The body portion of the post member 35is provided with a transversely extending tapered slot 36 which isadapted to receive a split key 37 therein.

The post member 35 is adapted toextend through and fit within arectangular shaped slot 38 formed in the channel-shaped end 39 of ananchoring bar 40. The slot 38 is preferably formed by cutting away aportion of the web of the channel-shaped end 39 and the flanges thereonare adapted to snugly embrace opposite sides of the post 35.

Means are provided for retaining the anchoring bar 40 on the post 35 andat the same time permit relative movement therebetween, and comprise atransversely extending pin 41 mounted in the extreme end of the post 35adjacent one corner thereof with the ends protruding from opposite sidesof the post so as to engage the flanges of the channelshaped end 39 ofthe anchoring bar.

The flanges of the channel-shaped end of the anchoring bar, at a pointwithin the limits of the slot 38, are provided with a pair oftransversely registering notches 42 which are adapted to receive theprotruding ends of the pin 41, thus permitting the anchoring bar andpost 35 to be folded so as to bring the an choring bar in prolongationof the post. The proportions of the joint members and the anchoring barare such that the bar 40, when folded in prolongation of the post 35,will pass between the adjacent edges of the strap members 26 and 27 andfit within the channel or groove in the car floor flush with the surfacethereof.

' The end of the anchoring bar 40 opposite to the end 39 is providedwith a transverse opening 43 therethrough which is adapted to receive apost member 35 of another joint as .islembly in the next adjacent grooveof the car oor.

lrVheel blocks 44, preferably of wood, are provided with transverseslots 45 in the base thereof for fitting snugly over the anchoring bars40. A key-Way 46 is provided at one side of the slot 45 for receiving asuitable key to wedge the wheel block 44 in any desired position alongthe anchor bar 40. The 0pposite sides of the bar 40 are grooved outslightly as shown at 47 and 48, in registry with the ke -way 46 so as tobe more securely held by the ey.

In the operation and use of this invention the freight car fioor usedfor shipment of automobiles are routed out to provide two pairs ofchannels adjacent the opposite sides of the car. The metal straps 26 and27, preferably countersunk so as to be flush with the car 'floor, arebolted to the floor so that their marginal edges overlap the channelsrouted out in the car floor, thereby providing a series of undercutgrooves. Each of the undercut grooves '22, 23, 24 and '25 is providedwith a plurality of the joint assemblies which comprise the slidemembers 30 and 31, connecting cross-head 34 pivoted therebetween, andpost member 35, which is rotatably mounted on the cross-head.

Each of the joint assemblies in one groove of each pair, shown in thedrawings as the grooves 23 and 25, has anchoring bars 40 mounted on thepost members 35 and retained thereon by their respective pins 41. Theslots 38, through which the post members 35 pass, and the notches 42 inthe flanges of the channel-shaped ends of the anchoring bars permit theanchoring bars to be swung out into prolongation of the post 35, theends of the pins 41 passing down into thenotches 42 when in thisposition and the post member 35 fitting up between the side flanges ofthe channelshaped end 39.

\Vhen in this position the anchoring bars 40 may be folded down into theslot in the car floor by rotation of the cross-head 34 on its trunnions32 and 33. The post members of the joint assembles in the slots 22 and24 are merely folded down into their respective slots by rotating thecross-heads 34 on their trunnions.

\Vhen it is desired to bring the anchoring bars into use they are raisedfrom their slots and folded so as to be transverse of the post 35, inwhich position they maybe swung around by rotation of the post35 on itspivotal mounting so as to extend over and overlap the adjacent slot ofthat particular pair. When in this position a post member of theadjacent slot is raised to a vertical position and the end of theanchoring bar having the aperture 43 passed down over the post.

Wheel blocks 44 are then placed on the anchoring bars with the slots 45in the base of the block fitting over and snugly embracing the bar 40. Apair of anchoring bars with wheel blocks facing toward each other areused for each wheel of the automobile to be anchored. When theautomobile is in correct position in the freight car the wheel blocks,anchoring bar therefor, and joint assemblies on the opposite ends of theanchoring bar, are moved up until the wheel blocks snugly engageopposite sides of the automobile wheel as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 of thedrawings.-

VVhen in this position the split web-shaped keys 37 are passed throughthe tapered slots 36 in the various posts 35 and driven therein so as towedge the joint assemblies tightly in their respective grooves, therebypreventing sliding of the joint assemblies in their grooves. The ends ofthe split keys 37 are then turned outwardly so as to retain the jointassembly in tightly wedged position. The wheel blocks 44 may then besecured to the anchoring bars 40 by driving key wedges in the slots 46which are provided in the wheel blocks.

When it is desired to place one of the automobiles in the car at anangle to the longitudinal axis thereof with the front end nested orinter-fitting with the front end of another the anchoring bars may beturned so as to be perpendicular to the plane of the wheels due to theslot 38. The slot in the end of the bar permits lengthwise movementthereof within certain limits and thus permits a wide range ofadjustment.

. Although but one specific embodiment 'of this invention has beenherein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous detailsof the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departinfrom the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claimsWhat we claim is 1. The combination of a car floor having an undercutgroove herein, a joint member slidable in said groove, and an anchoringbar secured to said joint member, said bar, and joint member beingadapted to house within said groove .when aligned therewith.

2. The combination of a car floor having a channelway therein, stripsoverlapping the marginal edges of said channelway to form an undercutgroove, a joint member slidably retained in said groove, and ananchoring bar secured to said joint member, said bar and joint memberbeing adapted to be housed wthin said groove when aligned therewith.

3. The combination of a car floor having an undercut groove therein, apost having one end slidably retained in said groove, and

an anchoring bar on the other end of said post, said post and bar beingconnected and relatively movable to a position in prolongation of eachother, said post and bar being shaped to house within said groove whenaligned therewith.

4. The combination of a car floor having a channelway therein themarginal edges of said channelway to form an undercut groove, a posthaving one end slidably retained in said groove, and an anchoring bar onthe other end of said post, said post and bar being connected andrelatively movable to a position in prolongation.

. of each other, said post and bar being shaped to house within saidtherewith.

5. The combination of a car floor having an undercut groove therein,spaced members slibable in said groove, a cross head pivoted betweensaid members, a post member pivoted on said cross head to rotate on anaxis at right angles to the axis of rotation of said cross head, and ananchoring bar secured to said post member.

6. An anchoring joint comprising a pair of slide members, a cross headpivoted begroove when aligned strips overlapping tween said members, anda post havin one I end rotatably mounted on said cross ead, the axis ofrotation of said post member being transverse to the axis of rotation ofsaid pivoted cross head.

7. The combination of an anchoring joint com rising a pair of slidemembers, a cross head pivoted between said members, a post memberpivotedon said cross head to rotate on an axis transverse to the axis ofrotation of said cross head, and an anchoring bar having a slot thereinfor receiving said post member, said post and bar having a looseconnection to permit said bar to be moved to a position in prolongationof said post and to a position transverse thereto.

8. The combination of an anchoring joint comprising a pair of slidemembers, a cross head pivoted between said members, a post memberpivoted on said cross head to rotate on an axis transverse to the axisof rotation of said cross head, and an anchoring bar having achannel-shaped end, a portion of the web of said channel shaped endbeing cut away to provide a slot for receiving said post member, saidpost and bar having a loose connection therebetween to permit relativemovement.

9. The combination of an anchoring joint comprising a airof slidemembers, a cross head pivoted between said members, a post memberpivoted on said cross head to rotate on an axis transverse to the axisof rotation of said cross head, and an anchoring bar having achannel-shaped end with the flanges thereof spaced to receive said posttherebetween, a portion of the web of said end being cut away to permitsaid 0st to pass therethrough a pin on said post avin Y projecting endsfor loosely retaining sai post and bar in assembled relation, saidflanges having notches therein for receiving the ends of said pin topermit said bar to be folded in prolongation of said ost.

HARRY A. ILLS.

ROBERT R. MAUK.

